Page 64 of Deception & Desire

“Cammy, please.”

“Itrustedyou!”

The word cuts deeper than I expect, and I falter, guilt crashing over me like a tidal wave.

“Carmen,” Amos’s voice weakly breaks through the moment. “Get out of here. Now.”

But she doesn’t move. Instead, her eyes stay locked on mine, betrayal etched into every line of her face.

For one terrible moment, I think she might attack. The thought certainly seems to cross her mind as she takes a purposeful step forward toward me.

I scramble to my feet, whipping my knife around defensively in alarm.

Her eyes widen as she retreats a small step.

Oh.

She hadn’t been trying to attack.

But now she knew that I would.

Something shatters in her expression before it goes icy cold. “You’re dead to me.” Carmen stares at me a moment longer before going to her father’s side.

Around us, people are still fighting, screaming, and yelling orders. I turn to Leon, where he’s half-propped himself up on the ground. I reach for him, and between us, we manage to get him to his feet.

“We need to go,” I say. “Can you walk?”

“Just go,” he hisses.

Leon’s weight sags heavily against me as I begin to drag him toward the exit. By the time I think of looking back over my shoulder, Carmen and Amos are nowhere to be found.

“I don’t think he hit anything important,” Leon grunts as we make it out into the fresh hair.

Blood soaks through his shirt, staining my hands as I clutch his side around the still-embedded knife anyway, trying to keeppressure on the wound. I try not to think about how labored his breathing is.

The chaos of the club fades into the background, replaced by the rhythmic pounding of my heart and the echo of Carmen’s words.

You’re dead to me.

Ahead of us are a group of men hurriedly shoving people into cars and barking orders. Thankfully, they notice us quickly.

“What the hell happened to you two?” Teo shouts.

Dante leans heavily against Teo, his own face pale and streaked with blood. There’s another man a few steps behind, clutching his arm where a makeshift bandage is wrapped around his arm.

Leon stirs at my side. “Amos. He thought we were kidnapping Carmen. He had Mia.”

“But I got away,” I finish for him. “Teo, he needs medical attention.”

Before Teo can answer, Leon lets out an indignant, “I’m fine.”

The man behind Teo chucks me a set of car keys. “Mia, get him in the car and go.”

“Stay out of this, Max,” Leon barks.

“With all due respect, no,” Max counters firmly. “It’s my fault she got caught. Now, both of you need to get out of here.”

Leon grunts, trying to push himself upright. “I can fight,” he insists, but the tremor in his voice betrays him.

---